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Back to School

Album: Gold Audio 03: Heroes

Episode: 43

Lesson/Theme: Making new friends.

Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 3; Hebrews 13:8

Characters: Whit

Writer: Paul McCusker

Sound Designer: Bob Luttrell

Original Air Date: September 10, 1988

Last Air Date: March 12, 2008

Description:
Leslie has a reputation around Whit's End for telling stories-exaggerated ones. Most of the time, they're pretty funny. But today they're covering up something more serious. First, she describes the Turners' dog as being bigger than a horse. Then Leslie tells Whit a wild tale about her first day at school: Her mother made her wear a torn dress and a hot sweater. The bus was driven by "Crazy Eddie," who only drives slower than 65 mph when he has to slow down for turns. All her friends deserted her at school. The principal put her in Mr. Gutwrench's class, who immediately made fun of her torn dress, gave her a 10,000 word essay to write, and yelled at her for hanging out with her friends during the summer. Whit, of course, questions the truthfulness of these statements. After a bit of probing, he discovers that Leslie is actually upset because her best friend, Cindy, isn't hanging around with her anymore. Cindy is good friends with Krista now, even though Cindy and Leslie promised to be best friends forever. Whit suggests the promise was one neither of them could keep. But Leslie ignores him and confronts Cindy at her house. Leslie tells Cindy that if they can't be best friends, then they won't be friends at all! Cindy shrugs this off as a sign of Leslie's immaturity. Leslie runs home, feeling sorry for herself. She ends up treating another friend, Anne, the same way Cindy treated her. When Anne leaves in tears, Leslie's mother gets to the bottom of the situation and explains to Leslie that people change as they get older. Sometimes friends grow apart, and Leslie and Cindy are starting to do that. But there is a friend who will never change: Jesus. Leslie feels terrible about her actions. She calls Anne to apologize. Anne forgives her, and Leslie learns a valuable lesson about friendship and life.

Questions:
Why was Leslie upset with Cindy? Did Leslie have a right to be upset with her? Why or why not? Have you ever grown apart from your best friend? How did you feel? What did you do about it? Leslie had trouble when her friendships changed. What kinds of changes are hardest for you?